Tell us about yourself and how many books you have written.
I am the author of the Moriston House Mystery Series, a traditional British Mystery series featuring reluctant amateur sleuth Lord Hugo Anstead and queen of crime and journalist Marjorie Branell-Markson.
Set in the scandalous English countryside, Moriston House Mysteries are the perfect English crime!
Book titles include The French De Ception, The Uncertainty Principle, The Altered Suggestion, The Monday Criminologist, and currently in production, Moriston House Mystery No. 5 Conversational Lies. I am also the author and illustrator of the classic children’s story, If the Sun was the Moon.
With sparkling dialogue, crisp and witty characters, and lots of essential British humor, Moriston House mysteries are the reading criminologist’s preferred cup of crime!
What is the name of your latest book and what inspired it?
The latest Moriston House mystery is called The Monday Criminologist, and was inspired by the classic works of the Golden Age of Detective fiction by Agatha Christie and Dorothy Sayers.
The story revolves around forged nineteenth-century art, the death of social philistine and shady art dealer Arthur Drake, and the connection with a recent crime column called the Monday Criminologist.
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Writing naturally has its ups and downs, and one of my favorite tricks for keeping it flowing when faced with a brick wall of considerable construction is to get out the reliable thesaurus, my dearest literary friend.
I select a particular word that is bothering me (or bothering the story), and get new ideas from researching other words until something fresh comes along.
It hasn’t failed me yet!
What authors, or books have influenced you?
The Moriston House Mystery series has been influenced by the classic works of Agatha Christie, Dorothy Sayers, Ngaio Marsh, and Margery Allingham for the mystery side, and for the humorous side, I have been significantly influenced by P.G. Wodehouse, Oscar Wilde and the classically funny works of John Mortimer.
I find that blending a bit of humor keeps the mysteries from becoming dark and dreary, and puts a smile on readers faces with something unexpected!
What are you working on now?
I am currently working on Moriston House Mystery No. 5, Conversational Lies, which revolves around an unsolved mystery in the sleepy English village of Halfereton, and is set during the Christmas season, ringing in a new tradition of crime.
What is your best method or website when it comes to promoting your books?
Always being open to new ideas and perspectives helps when beginning the long and arduous road of promotion.
Reaching readers by offering various options and freebies helps, and Goodreads is one of the largest sites for reaching the vast literary audience.
Do you have any advice for new authors?
Don’t give up and keep optimistic! Writing is a long and valuable journey, and has its little twists and turns! The internal rewards of writing must guide you, as the monetary rewards may become elusive. And keep smiling!
What is the best advice you have ever heard?
Don’t give up, and finish what you have started. You will be better for completing tasks, knowing that you can achieve anything.
And, things always look better in the morning.
What are you reading now?
I just finished reading Agatha Christie’s Halloween Party.
I particularly enjoyed the character of Ariadne Oliver, Ms. Christie’s mystery-writing alter ego.
What’s next for you as a writer?
I will continue with the Moriston House British Mystery Series, and Conversational Lies will be published in 2016, followed by The Perfect English Murder, Moriston House Mystery No. 6 in 2017.
I can’t keep up with my ambition and enthusiasm for writing this series, and have at least a dozen titles waiting to be born!
I look forward to getting them all in print.
If you were going to be stranded on a desert island and allowed to take 3 or 4 books with you what books would you bring?
Agatha Christie’s The Body in the Library, Dorothy Sayers Strong Poison, my collected works of Shakespeare, and The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde.
Author Websites and Profiles
Jennifer Girardin Website
Jennifer Girardin’s Social Media Links
Goodreads Profile